The Life of George Washington: Commander in Chief of the American Army, Through the Revolutionary War : and the First President of the United StatesPhillipd, Samson and Company, 1857 |
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Common terms and phrases
adopted Ameri American army appointed apprehended attack attempt body British army camp campaign character circumstances citizens Colonel WASHINGTON Commander in Chief communicated conceived conduct confidence Congress consequence Constitution corps Count d'Estaing danger defence detachment disposition duty effect endeavours enemy engaged establish event execution exertions expected expedition experience expressed favourable feelings force Fort Mifflin France French friends garrison Gene give Governour gress happiness honour hundred Indians induced influence INGTON Island Legislature letter liberty Lord Cornwallis Lord Loudoun manner measures ment military militia mind Minister Mount Vernon nation necessary neral New-Jersey New-York North river occasion officers opinion orders party passed patriotism peace Philadelphia present President provisions publick reason received regiment rendered Republick resolution respect retirement retreat secure sentiments sion Sir Henry Clinton situation soldiers spirit superiour thing thousand tion treaty troops United Virginia WASHING wish York Island
Popular passages
Page 184 - Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Page 174 - I rejoice, that the state of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty, or propriety ; and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that in the present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination to retire.
Page 91 - ... of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential agency, and in the important Revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government, the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities, from which the event has resulted, cannot be compared with the means by which most governments have been established, without some return of pious gratitude,...
Page 174 - In the discharge of this trust, I will only say, that I have, with good intentions, contributed towards the organization and administration of the Government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of others, has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself...
Page 184 - If in the opinion of the people the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation, for though this in one instance may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit which the use can at any time...
Page 184 - Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation DESERT the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ; and let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.
Page 184 - A just estimate of that love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories...
Page 92 - ... the foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens and command the respect of the world.
Page 190 - How far in the discharge of my official duties I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the public records and other evidences of my conduct must witness to you and to the world.
Page 189 - But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing, with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our...